CLASSIFYING YOUR OPPONENTS IN HEADS UP SNGS

In this heads up sng strategy article, Cog Dissonance outlines a logical thought process for assessing which type of villain we are playing against.  Note: This article is mainly geared towards new and lower stakes heads up poker players.  The content of this article does not always apply to more difficult high stakes thinking opponents that can more easily adjust and manipulate their image and tendencies.

KEY POINTS

Pre Flop

  • Don’t start the match too aggressively, you want to hear what the villain has to say, not batter him into submission with your aggression.
  • Test your opponent to see how he deals with limps, raises and 3-bets
  • Analyse your opponent’s frequencies: 
  • How often is he raising?
  • How often is he calling your raises?
  • What hand quality does he turn up with for these actions?

Post Flop

  • Bet in and out of position on dry boards to see how he reacts
  • How often is he calling or folding?
  • How often is he raising?
  • What hand quality does he turn up with for these actions?
  • How often does he bet in and out of position, with what hands?

The chart below should explain how to classify between TAG, LAG, Passive-Tight and Passive-Loose opponents. One indicator alone doesn’t guarantee an accurate assessment, but the more indicators an opponent has the more likely you have an accurate read on him.  Remember, this chart is meant for heads up sngs, so cross application may not produce the most desireable results.

 

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